to gossip / blaspheme
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to gossip about
To talk disparagingly or mockingly about a person who is absent. It has a strongly negative connotation and implies unfair or spiteful criticism.
Sie treffen sich nur, um über ihre Kollegen zu lästern.
They only meet up to gossip about their colleagues.
When you speak badly about a person, you always use the preposition 'über' with the accusative. The structure is: lästern + über + person (accusative).
Ich mag es nicht, wenn Leute hinter ihrem Rücken über andere lästern.
I don't like it when people gossip about others behind their backs.
You can recognize the meaning from the topic. If people are speaking about persons such as colleagues, neighbors, or politicians, disparaging talk is meant. If it is about God or holy things, the religious meaning (Gotteslästerung, blasphemy) is meant.
Hör auf, über deine Mitschüler zu lästern!
Stop gossiping about your classmates!
'Lästern' is always negative. It does not simply describe talking about someone, but rather spiteful and unfair criticism of a person who is not present.
Es ist verletzend zu hören, dass Freunde über einen lästern.
It is hurtful to hear that friends are gossiping about you.
The religious meaning is rare today and is mostly used in a historical or theological context. In everyday language, the noun 'die Gotteslästerung' (blasphemy) is more common.
Galileo Galilei wurde damals der Gotteslästerung beschuldigt.
Galileo Galilei was accused of blasphemy at the time.
to talk
'reden' and 'lästern' can both mean expressing oneself about a person. The important difference is the tone. 'schlecht über jemanden reden' (to speak badly about someone) is general and can also be factual criticism. 'lästern' sounds more strongly negative: you talk mockingly or meanly about someone, often when the person is not present. Learners may confuse the words because both can describe negative statements about other people. If you only want to say that someone is saying something negative, 'schlecht reden über' fits; if it is unfair, spiteful, or behind someone's back, 'lästern' fits better.
Leon lästert in der Pause über einen Mitschüler.
Leon gossips about a classmate during the break.
Meine Freundin redet nicht gern schlecht über ihre Familie.
My friend does not like to speak badly about her family.